Subterranean solar panel system

ABSTRACT

A subterranean solar panel system  10  for collecting solar energy and generating electricity, includes a structure  12  having a building section  14 , a roof  16 , and rooftop surface  18 . A plurality of solar panels forming a solar panel station  30  is provided in an underground space  20 . An optical device  50  is provided for capturing and magnifying sunlight in the form of a transparent lens  52  that is either concave or convex, which receives and magnifies the sunlight, or enhances it to be transferred to the solar panel station  30 . A system of fiber optic conductors  60  is provided having fiber optic strands contained therein which are connected to the transparent lens  52  and the solar panel station  30  for transferring the collected sunlight from the transparent lens  52  to the solar panel station  30.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to eliminating the unsightly visual effects associated with traditional solar panel installations, by placing the solar panel installation underground to make the solar panel (modules) virtually invisible to the eye.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, the solar panel industry has been plagued by the unsightly design and installation of solar panel systems for creating electricity. This invention avoids the negative aesthetics of the presently designed solar panel module installations, and also provides mechanical benefits. Also, with the present invention, there is no need for dedicated areas of land or rooftops for solar panels for either ground-mounted units or roof-top mounted units. In addition, solar panels that are rooftop mounted add extra load to the roof, and during the installation, there is a need to make many penetrations within the roof itself that lead to future leaks and subject the rooftop and the underneath to possible water damage and structural damage.

The current method of mounting solar panels on rooftops or ground installations, allows the solar panels to become tainted with dust, air pollutants, natural residues, and bird droppings that gradually decrease the overall electric productivity output of these solar panels/modules.

With the subterranean solar technology of the present invention, the above-referenced negative effects are eliminated because they will be in a controlled environment under the ground.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is placing solar panel installations in a subterranean system, that keeps the solar panels out of the elements, which will increase their life span and reduce the need for upkeep, maintenance, and cleaning of the solar modules, since they are no longer on rooftops or exposed to any weather elements or foreign debris from all outside installations.

Another object of the present invention, is that these solar panel modules that are stored under the earth, eliminate the current negative effects of outside exposure and eliminate the need for ongoing maintenance to keep them clean and operational.

The added benefits of subterranean solar technology is a much cooler environment to produce electricity which does not suffer from becoming overheated from exposure to the sun; therefore, increasing the electrical productivity.

The solar panel industry has suffered from solar panels that generate too much heat and reduce the electrical output. Another object is that the cooler underground environment improves and reduces the fluctuations of electrical output.

The present invention provides a better solar panel electrical system, in many ways: mechanically, electrically, aesthetically, and keeps them out of eyesight, and keeps them out of harms way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A subterranean solar panel system 10 for collecting solar energy and generating electricity, includes a structure 12 having a building section 14, a roof 16, and rooftop surface 18. A plurality of solar panels forming a solar panel station 30 is provided in an underground space 20. An optical device 50 is provided for capturing and magnifying sunlight in the form of a transparent lens 52 that is either concave or convex, which receives and magnifies the sunlight, or enhances it to be transferred to the solar panel station 30. A system of fiber optic conductors 60 is provided having fiber optic strands contained therein which are connected to the transparent lens 52 and the solar panel station 30 for transferring the collected sunlight from the transparent lens 52 to the solar panel station 30.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the subterranean solar panel system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention includes a subterranean solar panel system 10, which includes a structure 12 having a building section 14 and a roof 16, which has a rooftop surface 18. In an underground space 20, there is provided a plurality of solar panels in a solar panel station 30, wherein each solar panel station includes multiple solar panel units, which can be of any number, such as two solar panels up to fifteen solar panels for each solar panel station 30. As shown in the attached drawing, solar panel station 30 includes seven solar panels 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44 which form a single solar panel station 30. It should be understood that multiple solar panel stations 30 can be linked together to form a single subterranean solar panel system 10. In addition, the solar panel stations 30 are placed underground at least 2 to 4 feet below the frontline.

Mounted on rooftop surface 18 is an optical device 50 to capture and magnify sunlight. Preferably, the optical device 50 is a transparent lens 52 that may be either concave or convex which receives the sunlight and magnifies it or enhances it to be transferred to the solar panel station 30 using a system of fiber optic conductors 60 having fiber optic strands contained therein for transferring the collected sunlight from the transparent lens 52 to the solar panel station 30.

The transparent lens 52 may be of any size, such as 24 inches by 24 inches, or 36 inches by 36 inches, or 72 inches by 72 inches.

In the present invention, fiber optic conductors 60 are connected between transparent lens 52 and solar panel station 30 using individual fiber optic conductors 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, and 74 each connected to a different solar panel 32 to 44 in order to conduct the sunlight to each individual solar panel in the solar panel station 30.

The electrical energy output from solar panel station 30 is connected by a wire 80 to an inverter 82 and an electric meter 84 for collecting, storing, and reading the amount of electric energy produced by the solar panel station 30.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention has provided the advantage of placing solar panel installations in a subterranean system, that keeps the solar panels out of the elements, which will increase their life span and reduce the need for upkeep, maintenance, and cleaning of the solar modules, since they are no longer on rooftops or exposed to any weather elements or foreign debris from all outside installations.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein. 

What is claimed is: 1) A subterranean solar panel system 10 for collecting solar energy and generating electricity, comprising: a) a structure 12 having a building section 14, a roof 16, and rooftop surface 18; b) a plurality of solar panels forming a solar panel station 30 in an underground space 20; c) an optical device 50 for capturing and magnifying sunlight in the form of a transparent lens 52 that is either concave or convex, which receives and magnifies the sunlight, or enhances it to be transferred to said solar panel station 30; and d) a system of fiber optic conductors 60 having fiber optic strands contained therein are connected to the transparent lens 52 and the solar panel station 30 for transferring the collected sunlight from the transparent lens 52 to the solar panel station
 30. 2) A subterranean solar panel system 10 in accordance with claim 1, wherein each solar panel station 30 includes 2 solar panels up to 15 solar panels. 3) A subterranean solar panel system 10 in accordance with claim 1, wherein multiple solar panel stations 30 are connected together. 4) A subterranean solar panel system 10 in accordance with claim 1, wherein each solar panel in said solar panel station 30 is connected by one or more fiber optic conductors to optical device
 50. 5) A subterranean solar panel system 10 in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transparent lens 52 may be of any size, such as 24 inches by 24 inches, or 36 inches by 36 inches, or 72 inches by 72 inches. 